2016
Trump elected president
A real estate developer and reality TV star with no political experience defeated Hillary Clinton…
AlphaGo beats Lee Sedol
DeepMind's neural network defeated the world's strongest human Go player four games to one in a Seoul hotel ballroom.
Brexit referendum
By 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent, British voters chose to leave the European Union in a referendum that stunned even many of its advocates.
Failed Turkish coup
Tanks rolled onto the bridges of Istanbul and jets buzzed Ankara as a faction of the Turkish military tried to overthrow President Erdogan.
Rio Olympics open
Rio de Janeiro became the first South American city to host the Summer Games, against a backdrop of Zika virus, political turmoil, and unfinished construction.
Gravitational waves detected
LIGO scientists announced that twin observatories in Louisiana and Washington had felt the ripples in spacetime from two black holes colliding 1.3 billion…
Pulse nightclub massacre
A 29-year-old gunman swearing allegiance to ISIS opened fire inside a gay nightclub in Orlando during Latin night…
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 2016?
Saeculum lists 8 events from 2016. The most significant is Trump elected president: A real estate developer and reality TV star with no political experience defeated Hillary Clinton.
What era was 2016 part of?
2016 falls within the Contemporary (2001-2026). Networks, climate, and the new uncertainty.
Which regions saw notable events in 2016?
The events from 2016 span North America, East Asia, Europe, Middle East and South America.